Ask Trooper Keith: Tips for using appropriate child restraints

This week I received the following question: I have a 7-month-old girl that weighs 22 pounds, and has outgrown her infant car seat. I have a convertible car seat and was wondering how I am supposed to use that seat?

This week I received the following question: I have a 7-month-old girl that weighs 22 pounds, and has outgrown her infant car seat. I have a convertible car seat and was wondering how I am supposed to use that seat?

Child Restraint questions are difficult to answer completely without knowing what type of car seat you have, manufacturer's specifications, the height of your child, type of vehicle, etc. I will explain as best as I can with the information in this question.

Your child needs to remain rear-facing in the car, so the convertible car seat is a great choice. The reason that younger children and infants are placed facing the rear of the vehicle is because their neck and vertebrae are still developing and their heads are so big and heavy. In the event of a crash, a rear-facing seat will allow your child's entire body to take the force of the crash.

If your child is transitioned to forward-facing too early, in this case, at 7 months and 22 pounds, her head is at a much greater risk of being thrust forward in a crash. This presents a very high risk of brain injury, neck injuries, spinal cord damage or worse.

I recommend that all children should remain in a rear-facing seat until approximately 2 years old, or they meet the maximum rear-facing limits of their convertible car seat. This is also the recommendation supported by Safe Kids, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. It is VERY important that you are familiar with your car seat's limitations. Most convertible car seats accommodate up to 35 pounds rear-facing, however each and every car seat model is different. Rear-facing is always safer than forward-facing when your child is within the car seat's limitations for rear-facing.

Once your child has reached the limitation, it is time to transition the convertible seat to forward facing or get a new seat. These seats should go in the back seat of your vehicle and NEVER in a seat with a frontal airbag.

I also want to remind parents, new and experienced, that when it is time for a new seat, make sure your seat is not expired or recalled. You can check the car seat recall list at www.safercar.gov. Also, DO NOT purchase a car seat from a garage sale or second-hand store. If a car seat has been in a crash it may be damaged or weakened, even if it still looks intact. You need to know the complete history of the seat before you buy it.

I am a nationally certified Child Safety Seat Technician and if you have a question about child safety seats, or anything else, you can email me your question to asktrooperkeith@gmail.com.

Page 2 of 2 - Keith Disselkoen is a Community Service Trooper for the MSP Lakeview Post. If you have a question for Trooper Disselkoen, you can email him at asktrooperkeith@gmail.com.